CABUL — SCENERY. 



387 



towards this, and meets it about two or three miles from the city at 

 the end of a low range of hills. 



The valley is not so well cultivated as ours, (i. e. the one in which 

 the army is encamped) nor by any means so well wooded ; it appears 

 bare some way from the city, but this may arise from the stubble 

 of the prevailing cultivation of wheat and barley. There is abun- 

 dance of water, the only distinct Chummun is to the south of the 

 citadel, it is now under water. 



Some low isolated hills or ranges axe interspersed in the valley ; of 

 these the largest is that running nearly parallel to the central road ; 

 the next is due north of the city, and midway between it and the 

 saltwater lake which stretches several miles along the north of the 

 valley, and which appears to be a large body of water. 



The boundary hills are generally fine ; to the east is a high scarp- 

 ed bold range, running nearly due north and south, its terminations 

 being plainly visible ; near its southern end commences the ridge that 

 forms the oblique south boundary of the valley, and which runs 

 up towards the south into a fine broadly conical peak, very conspicu- 

 ous from Arghandab. To the north are the fine Pughman moun- 

 tains ; these run east and west : they are of great elevation, and of fine 

 outline, presenting here and there appearances of snow. To the west 

 is the walled ridge, not exceeding 1,300 feet in its highest point 

 above the general level ; this is interrupted by the Cabul river, and 

 never reaches such elevations again ; before ending to the north, it 

 sends off a spur to the east. 



Beyond the eastern boundary, glimpses of the Hindoo-koosh are 

 obtainable. 



To the west, there are no very high hills visible, excepting the 

 western part of the Pughmans ; those of our valley are not exceeding 

 2,000 feet in height, and are low to the south, in which direction 

 the Maidan river flows into the valley. Beyond the highest point of 

 the walled ridge, are several crowded high mountains. 



The vegetation of the western hills is not peculiar, Echinops, a 

 tallish Carduacea, Carduacea alia, Senecionoides, Astragali, Artemisiae 

 2, Statice of Dhuni pass. 



Leucades, Labiata of Karabagh, Graminese, several small Composite, 

 foliis dislocatis, Leguminosa, fructu echinatis, Santalacea, Asphodelus 

 luteus, Ruta angustifolia, Umbellifera, foliis maximis of Chiltera, a 

 very stout plant, with a very medicinal gum, a new Polanisioid, 

 a Centaureoid, and a fine Carduacea, are to be found in it. 



